In this connected, always on world that you’ll just have to deal with, there’s something else coming in the next generation of consoles that will always be on; the lightbar on the PlayStation 4’s controller.
Sony’s confirmed via Twitter that you won’t be able to turn the glowing light on your Dualshock 4 off, not even to conserve battery power which is obviously a problem to the sort of people who like there to be problems where none really exist; like old ladies in post offices, console fanboys, executive committees, Verimark and a sub-section of particularly overzealous feminists.
No, instead you’ll have to be content to deal with that glowy bit of the controller being on, always. It’ll be used in some pretty interesting ways. In games like Killzone, it’ll let you know how much health you have, changing colours as it depletes without taking up that precious HUD space. It’ll also be used in conjunction with the optional camera accessory for motion control and the like.
Of course, there is actually a real problem that this creates; if you’re playing in a dimly lit room, it’s likely you’ll see a slight reflection of the glowing bar on your screen in particularly dark scenes – but it’s nothing a bit of tape won’t fix.
Last Updated: July 8, 2013
Tarisma
July 8, 2013 at 11:32
That’s it not buying it.
Lol.
Pretty sure the controller light is going to be watching me.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 8, 2013 at 11:34
Oh no, a sexy blue light on my controller that will never disappear. The horror……
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 8, 2013 at 11:35
Hey, blue lights are perfect IMHO. My wife hates the fact that my PC emanates a permanent, blindingly bright blue glow permanently but I think it rocks 🙂
Tarisma
July 8, 2013 at 11:41
My PC is like a Christmas tree inside, red blue green and yellow. Another blue light sitting around wont hurt.
Skyblue
July 8, 2013 at 11:44
All you need to do now is drop the suspension and tint the windows
Tarisma
July 8, 2013 at 11:48
And also put on a new exhaust… Fan.
John Ambitious
July 8, 2013 at 12:03
Mine has no windows. Bit like a tank. Sounds like one too when I run stuff higher than I should.
Trevor Davies
July 8, 2013 at 12:07
Maybe you need a freeflow exhaust?
John Ambitious
July 8, 2013 at 12:33
That might be worth considering….but there’s no way I’m getting one without plakking on a few decals
Mark Treloar
July 8, 2013 at 12:05
The SA edition of the PS4 will be sold with a Free State Ferrari mod pack
Slade Boender
July 8, 2013 at 12:14
Died. Votes all around
Skyblue
July 8, 2013 at 11:42
Your wife is correct, but man-kitsch is our right
Trevor Davies
July 8, 2013 at 11:43
Your PC is blue? :/
John Ambitious
July 8, 2013 at 12:01
Ouch
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 8, 2013 at 12:01
Why would you do this? You must die. Sorry, its nothing personal, but you simply cannot be allowed to live after posting this picture.
Trevor Davies
July 8, 2013 at 12:06
But sharing is caring 🙁
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 8, 2013 at 12:17
Sharing this picture is like sharing an STD. ^^
Sir Twakkus
July 8, 2013 at 12:31
Precious?
John Ambitious
July 8, 2013 at 12:33
Ultimo, you have my thumbs up. This is just evil. Now the damn thing is stuck in my head too.
Trevor Davies
July 8, 2013 at 11:37
Blue light? That’s sexist!
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 8, 2013 at 11:38
You prefer Red lights…..dont you.
#winkwinknudgenudge
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 8, 2013 at 11:40
BUSTED
Skyblue
July 8, 2013 at 11:41
Damn it, I hate shit like that. Reminds me of early Razer accessories with lighting that couldn’t be turned off. They eventually saw the… light? and made their gear lighting completely customizable.
RinceWind
July 8, 2013 at 11:52
NOOOOO! I was sold Sony, I really was. But this is taking the piss. A light, at the back of the controller, always on!? WTF? In other news, if the colours change when your lifebar is being depleted… How do you know? MUST you sit in the dark so you can see the reflection? Because the last time I needed to look down at my controller to do anything I was 11 and probably tripping on Ritolin…
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 8, 2013 at 11:53
That light reminds me of an el-cheapo Telefunken TV.
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 8, 2013 at 11:56
Prestik, Prestik….Prestik everywhere!!!
RMKennySA
July 8, 2013 at 11:56
The HORROR!!! Boksburg and their blue led lights have spread. First it was cars.. Then gadgets. Now.. Our play stations!! Oh wait… That blue light looks pretty cool… Oh no.. Im infected!! liiight… liiight. liggghwwwt. Im sorry. BANG… silence……………………..
Brady miaau
July 8, 2013 at 11:57
you will see it when you hold, lying back on your couch?
Is the lightbar not in the front of the console?
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 8, 2013 at 11:59
Be prepared to have your groin lit in blue!!!!*
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 8, 2013 at 12:00
Red light indicates your groin is in danger.
John Ambitious
July 8, 2013 at 12:00
With info on the controller it’s actually making things crappier. Because who ever looks down at their hands while busy with an intense game?
BeatzByChrisBrown
July 8, 2013 at 12:32
Not only that, the light sits on front of the controller. You have to tilt the controller to actually see the light…
John Ambitious
July 8, 2013 at 12:35
So it’s gimmicky. Which makes it el’ crappo.
Martin du preez
July 8, 2013 at 12:10
Sony is going to troll ALL. When it comes out the light will be default pink (Like the move dildo)
John Ambitious
July 8, 2013 at 12:36
Just got a whole new perspective on the move now…. and it’s not good
ElimiNathan
July 8, 2013 at 12:24
Rechargeables, a must have
hendrik
July 8, 2013 at 12:29
The think with the changing light. Didn’t they mention that player two will have a different colour, en player 3 and 4. What happens when player 1’s colour changes so that it looks like player 3’s. Just wondering
hendrik
July 8, 2013 at 12:30
Sheesh, sorry guys, too many spelling and grammar mistakes. Try to type without my boss seeing me.
Kromas
July 8, 2013 at 13:00
With a future update your controller will become a lightsaber. TAKE MY MONEY!!!
DrKiller
July 8, 2013 at 15:46
When you use the word “always on”, will it be on when the console if OFF?
Harvey P. Cheesewinkle
July 8, 2013 at 16:45
It replaces the numbered red LED lights on the DS3/Sixaxis, that determined which player you were. Obviously it will be always on, regardless of what newer uses it may have. Don’t really see it as a problem, I hold my controller at a slight downward angle when playing, so the glow shouldn’t cause any issues during gaming.
The Fez
July 8, 2013 at 18:18
Just no. It’s smacks of poor design/planning and last minute fence jumping! If it’s not Xbox with their 180 it’s Sony with this crap! This will drain constant power for no apparent reason(at least MS can fix their 180 with a day one update) but this just shows how unstable Sony is making major calls last minute to make a few bucks! And if you hold your controller at a slight downward angle, how will you see your health status while playing all Sony players asked always? Playing in a dim lit room that thing will be an instant moth magnet! LOL! Sony disappoints me, especially when I read about their online DRM ideas and the re patenting of Playstation TV, what happened to “for GAMERS”?!
Harvey P. Cheesewinkle
July 9, 2013 at 00:43
It’s an LED, it has the exact same energy requirements as the 4 LED light system on the Sixaxis.
How will I see my health status? By either looking on the screen, or noticing that the screen is black and white….as with most games. What, are you seriously going to turn your controller around or flip it up to see what the light bar says? Really? Have fun with that.
The Fez
July 8, 2013 at 17:51
This is just lame and plain stupid. This just proves that Sony never intended to sell their console without the Eye toy and instead did a quick 180 to come in as at a lower price than MS. I will not fall for this crap, I’m not 12 anymore sorry Sony! And if the always online DRM Sony has planned for it’s stupid 4k streaming box is a sign of thing to come Sony will stay where it belongs, in my car!